Pet 1st Aid & CPR

This service is no longer offered. Please check www.PetTech.net for a list of instructors in your area.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, 25% more pets can be saved if just one first aid technique is used before taking them to the vet.

Are you ready to help your pet through an accident or unexpected injury? All of us who enjoy the love of a cat or dog know the kind of mischief they can get into. You can now be prepared to improve their chances of survival by taking a first aid and CPR class.

I became certified by Pet Tech, Inc., to teach pet first aid and CPR in 2008. The reason I chose this program is because of the scope of potential situations covered and the emphasis on hands-on practice. Getting your body involved in learning helps it stick.

Saving Lives

Many dog rescue volunteers and people in the pet care industry, as well as pet owners, have taken this class over the past few years. Shelley T., a pet sitter from Bothell, WA, reported arriving for a midday dog visit to find the dog in heat stroke. She was thrilled to find her training paid off in saving the dog’s life and preventing brain damage with her quick, knowledgeable action.

Another pet sitter who took the class, Scott D., Lake City, WA, learned that Rhododendren leaves could poison an animal. He was taking care of a puppy who chewed on a Rhodie in the yard and had chronic digestive upset. He alerted the owners and they confirmed with their vet that the Rhododendron leaves were toxic. The puppy’s gastric distress stopped when they blocked access to the shrub.

A foster dog’s life was saved with pet first aid, when the dog got into a box of garden fertilizer. Although it was organic fertilizer, it had toxic ingredients that could have made the small Poodle quite ill.

Danni L. treating a cut paw on her dog Anubis

Being Prepared for an Emergency

The message in these examples is that animals get into all kinds of trouble. We never know when our dog or one we’re taking care of is going to limp into the house with a cut paw or a severe allergic reaction to a wasp sting, or raid the pantry and ingest raisins, dark chocolate, or some other food that can harm them. Cats are notorious for nibbling on houseplants, knocking things over and splattering glass shards on the floor, or jumping on the counter and getting into something dangerous. In some of their nine lives they might need the help of a skilled human to pull them through a fall, a cut, a poisoning, or choking.

You can gain first aid and CPR skills in one afternoon. The class is simple, interesting, and fun. These are skills everyone can learn, from pre-teens to seniors. Here is what Charlotte B., of Seattle, WA, had to say about the class:

Vicki creates a learning space that’s comfortable and relaxed. The hands on activities and individual instructor attention helped me to feel confident with my new set of skills. This class was way above and beyond what {the other organization} offers. Charlotte B., Seattle, WA